“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:12-13).
America continues to reel from two separate mass shootings one day ahead of Thanksgiving. Sadly, there have been two mass shootings in the span of a few days. A a gunman killed five people and injured 18 others at an LGBTQ nightclub late Saturday in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Six people were shot overnight at a Walmart in Virginia. Senseless murders! How can we as a nation continue to tolerate the carnage of deaths and injuries from gunfire, particularly among our children, and the grief of losing our loved ones.
God hates the shedding of innocent blood. Proverbs 6:16-19 says there are six things he hates, seven are an abomination to him. What are they? “Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who declares lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.” Our society is fraught with pride, lies, blood shed, wicked plans, evil, false witnesses declaring lies about stolen elections, and daily strife among political party leaders and their constituents.
Today most Americans are concerned about the quality of life, inflation, gas prices, crime, all while some political leaders are grumbling over whose going to be in charge, investigations into the current Administration, possible impeachment and a member of their family who struggled with addiction, stolen elections, failing democracy, and so forth. Romans 13:1 makes it clear that “there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” God is the originator of all authority. This is not to say that God approves of every form of government or of everyone who holds governmental offices. It simply means that God has established the institution of government and that all authority to rule comes from him. Government leaders are meant to be God’s servants to do good (Rom. 13:4). This is why leaders are to act righteously in their dealings. “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked person rules, people groan” (Pr. 29:2).
There is a great need for a spiritual renewal among all of God’s people today. There is a need for a Spirit-filled flourishing church to make God’s presence felt in a world that has lost its way. It will take more than worldly wisdom to build the kingdom of God. It takes more than human ingenuity. We must think realistically about building on a firm foundation during this time of shaking and crumbling foundations. Christ’s kingdom is not of this world. I believe revival will come when the church returns to the preaching of the gospel. The good news that is able to save souls.
Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” (John 18:36).
Apostle Paul warned Timothy of what these days would be like: “…in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these” (1 Tim. 1-5). He encouraged Timothy to follow his teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,persecutions, and sufferings. Instructing Timothy that all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (1 Tim. 3: 10, 12-13).
The church’s mission is not to take America back for God or direct the government. Instead, the church be turning the nation towards God. The church of Jesus Christ is called to live godly in this world and be his witnesses on earth so that others will see its good works, and be reconciled to God. The church’s weapons of war are not carnal, but mighty, divine power for the pulling down of strongholds of sin, racism, faulty beliefs, vain philosophies and ideologies, and so forth (2. Cor. 10:4).
I encourage believers and nonbelievers to stand for the truth as revealed in God’s Word. Satan is a deceiver who is working to deceive the whole world before the end comes. He knows his time is short (Rev. 12:12). But the church has this truth that God is in the world reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. He has committed to his church to the message of reconciliation. W the church is commissioned to be his ambassadors, making an appeal imploring others on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:19-20).
May the peace of God rule your hearts each and every day!
Minister Dr. A. Francine Green
Notes: All scripture references are taken from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 